Top 5 Vacation Rental Mistakes

Planning your dream trip at a vacation rental? Hold up! Before you click “Book Now” on that perfect vacation rental, there are some crucial pitfalls you need to sidestep. 

As someone who’s seen it all in the world of vacation rentals, I’m here to share the inside scoop on avoiding common mistakes that can turn your relaxing getaway into a stress-fest. From choosing the right booking site to decoding bed configurations, we’ll cover the top five blunders that catch even savvy travelers off guard.

So grab a comfy seat, and let’s make sure your next vacation rental experience is nothing short of amazing. 

Ready to become a vacation rental pro? Let’s dive in!

1. Not all rental sites are equal – use a trusted one

There are many vacation rental websites, and many vacation homeowners will advertise on more than one. In addition, they often have their own website advertising the vacation rental home. 

Some third-party booking sites feature vacation homes as well as hotels, which can be even more confusing for travelers. 

The trusted booking sites are the big ones: Airbnb and VRBO.

They show extensive pictures, reviews, and clear cancellation policies. They also make it easy to communicate with the host.

Avoid using these to secure a vacation rental:

• Craigslist
• Reddit
• Facebook and Instagram
• TikTok

These options are great for some things but are loaded with vacation rental scammers.

2. Location is everything – check it twice!

Nothing is worse than pulling into the driveway of a beautiful vacation home only to find out the things you wanted in the backyard (lake, ocean, etc.) are across a busy road!

As in real estate, the old rule – ‘location is everything’ – rings true. 

For security reasons, the specific address of the vacation rental may not be available until after booking, so it’s important to do these things:

1. Check the cancellation policy – just in case you discover after booking that there’s that busy road, you can cancel the reservation.
2. Zoom ALL the way in on the map.
3. If you’re still unsure, contact the host directly. They’re usually happy to share the location, and if they’re not, that’s a red flag.
4. Read the reviews carefully. If there’s an issue with the location, other renters will have noted it.

3. A bed is a bed is a bed, right? Wrong.

Vacation homes are popular for groups of friends or families because they are usually more cost-effective than reserving multiple hotel rooms. They allow travelers to spend more time together and offer the flexibility of a kitchen for cooking.

That said, there’s a big difference in how many people a rental can sleep and the actual number of beds or bedrooms. Just because a vacation rental says it can sleep 10 people, for example, that doesn’t mean everyone has an actual bed. Nor does it mean all the sleeping options will be comfortable.

A couple may not want a bedroom with two twin beds; some travelers may not want to sleep on the exposed pull-out couch in the living room, for example. If a baby is coming, where will they sleep?

To make sure everyone has a comfy place to sleep:

1. Confirm how many people you will have on the trip.
2. Figure out who’s sleeping with whom (or not).
3. Carefully match up the number and size of the beds needed.
4. Scrutinize the specific descriptions of the bedrooms and reviews. If a thin futon is advertised as a double bed, other travelers will have noted that.

Like Goldilocks, adjust the size of the rental you need until you get the size just right.

Pro tip: If you’re planning to eat meals together as a group, check the number of chairs available too! While you’re at it, check the number of parking spaces too.

4. List the amenities you want and verify they’re available

When you stay at a vacation rental, there is no staff making breakfast and bringing you towels. If there’s a coffee maker, is there also a coffee grinder, or do you need to bring ground coffee instead? If you want to make mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner, is there a mixer or a potato masher?

Sometimes these little surprises are an opportunity to get creative; other times, they add unwanted stress and frustration.

List out all the things you’ll want to make your vacation comfortable and check the listing or contact the host to see if they’re available. 

Pro tip: While you’re at it, create a grocery shopping list for yourself. You can pick everything up at a local store before you arrive.

5. Don’t get caught unawares – read the fine print!

Reserving a vacation rental is just plain harder than booking a hotel, and all those rules and regulations exist because:

1 You’re renting someone’s home.
2 Past renters have made mistakes.

Look for the house rules and important information – here’s an example from a VRBO rental:

There are also extra fees for rentals that can catch travelers unaware. These may include cleaning fees, service fees, host fees, etc. Make sure you know exactly how much you’ll be spending. Luckily, those trusted sites previously mentioned make that simple to figure out.

Now that you’re armed with these insider tips, you’re ready to book your dream vacation rental with confidence. Remember, a little extra research and attention to detail can make all the difference between a so-so stay and an unforgettable getaway. So go ahead, start planning that perfect escape, and get ready to create memories that’ll last a lifetime – all from the comfort of your home away from home.

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